Democratic Participation
Posted by KatrinVerclas on Sep 25, 2008
The Knight News Challenge 2008, a worldwide contest, reopened again for a new round. There is $5 million in funding available for digital media experiments to innovate news and communication - including mobile! The deadline is November 1, 2008.
The contest is open to community-minded innovators worldwide, from software designers to journalists to citizens and students of any age. Winning entries must have three elements:
Posted by KatrinVerclas on Sep 24, 2008
Forum Nokia has announced a new global contest: "Calling All Innovators" for developers to create mobile applications that will help to better society. Nokia will award up to USD 150,000 in cash and prizes, in addition to helping the winning developers distribute their mobile applications.
In its announcement of the contest, Nokia notes that
Posted by KatrinVerclas on Sep 24, 2008
CNN recently reported on mobiles in election monitoring -- providing real-time data from the polling stations transmitted via mobiles. The article asserts: "The humble mobile phone is driving a new revolution which some experts hope could bring fairer elections and democracy to some African states. During the 2006 local government elections in Senegal, Radio Sud used reporters and correspondents with cell phones to call in what they saw. Many African countries have struggled against rigged elections and authoritarian rule since gaining independence last century. However, African observers say the growth of simple communication technologies like cell phones are assisting many states to progress towards open and fair elections in increasingly democratic systems."
CNN argues that the use of mobile phones increases accountability in elections and allows "independent media, especially radio, to provide accurate coverage of elections and make it more difficult for ruling parties to cheat and get away with it."
Posted by KatrinVerclas on Sep 19, 2008
What does it take for smaller organizations to adde a mobile strategy to advance the work? What are some ways in which small organizations can get started in mobile, and get what they need for free or at very low cost to try the mobile medium for their work?
We were recently at the Institute for Nonprofits organized by the Bay Area Video Coalition to help a select group of organizations develop their social media strategy.
Lots of the groups at BAVC were interested in exploring how mobile phones fit into their work. Many work with constituents of color and lower-income communities in America that are more likely to be on a mobile than on the web. And of course, this is true around the world already.
In that same vain, a reader asked recently: "How can I get started in mobile?" He wrote:
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Posted by KatrinVerclas on Sep 09, 2008
When we hosted MobileActive07 in Brazil last year, this beautiful mobile baby was still in his mother's belly -- Graziela from Avaaz.org who was a MobileActive07 participant.
As we are getting ready for MobileActive08 in Johannesburg, we are happy to report that, in true MobileActive.org fashion, this child (a baby no more) MOVES! We hope to see more of the next generation of MobileActives in South Africa! Register now for MobileActive08 as the spaces (and baby motos) are filling up fast! And congratulations, Mama Graziela!
Posted by KatrinVerclas on Sep 02, 2008
By Katrin Verclas and John Soeren Petterson
There are two notable events this fall focusing on mobile telephony for social impact and for development. The first event is MobileActive08, October 13-15 in South Africa. The second is M4D 2008: Mobile Communication Technology For Development, December 11 and 12 in Sweden.
We are the organizers of MobileActive08 and M4D, and are jointly hoping that our events will advance the exploration of the emerging field of mobile technology for social impact. Both of our events are interdisciplinary and include NGO practitioners, technologists and researchers. Together we will explore how mobile technology can advance work in a wide variety of issue areas such as health, advocacy, livelihoods, environmental protection and citizen media.
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Posted by KatrinVerclas on Aug 25, 2008
In our exploration this week of the social impact of mobiles phones on livelihoods, the GSMA Development Fund has aggregated key research studies from the last few years on the social and economic impact of mobile telephony in developing countries.
We are very pleased that key practitioners and researchers from the field cited in the report will be leading sessions at MobileActive08 such as Jonathan Donner, Microsoft and Jesse Moore, GSMA Development Fund.
There is a growing body of impact studies that indicate the substantial effect that mobile telephony has on the lives and livelihoods of poor people. The GSMA Development Fund compendium (attached for easy download) lists 20 studies conducted between 2005 and early 2008, and cites other, related reseaech in a well-done overview.
A few examples:
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Posted by KatrinVerclas on Aug 24, 2008
The idea was clever: Promise political supporters first dibs of hard-hitting news delivered via SMS. Presidential candidate Barack Obama's much-anticipated vice-presidential pick was supposed to be sent to his supporters via text message and email first - notifying people who had signed up with the campaign before the media, before anyone else. The buzz was on, and even though numbers are not released by the campaign, it is estimated that the campaign has now a list of about 1 million mobiles numbers when more and more people signed up to be the first to know who the campaign had picked as VP.
Posted by KatrinVerclas on Aug 20, 2008
We are very pleased to announce the agenda for MobileActive08. Please take a look!
We had an overwhelming number of submissons for sessions, talks, and SIMlab and SIMSpace spots and had to make very hard choices. We appreciate the many superb session that were suggested by so many of you and thank you sincerely!
If you are thinking of coming, please register now. MobileActive08 is the largest event to date focused on mobile technology for social development. This global gathering brings together people like you - practitioners, researchers, technologists and donors experienced and interested in the use and application of mobile technology for social impact. Register now!
Posted by KatrinVerclas on Aug 18, 2008
Civil society can play a large role in getting people digitally connected, say the co-editors of the new book 'ICT Infrastructure in Emerging Asia: Policy and Regulatory Roadblocks'.
"However, in order to reap the full benefits from connectivity in a long-lasting manner, underlying issues of policy, affordability and technology need to be addressed," LIRNAsia's Executive Director Rohan Samarajiva and co-editor of the book with Ayesha Zainudeen, told Mobileactive.org in an email interview.
Currently Asia is the fastest growing region in the world in terms of connectivity. Between 1984 and 1993, the Asia Pacific as a region overtook the other regions of the world (mainly due to mobiles), and it continues to grow, he noted.
"The book looks at the recent experiences of some countries in emerging Asia that are improving connectivity.
Posted by KatrinVerclas on Aug 18, 2008
We welcome to our team two new occasional bloggers from India and Uganda: Frederick Noronha and Esther Nasikye. You will see blog posts and stories from them starting today. Both are experienced in ICT for Development and have a special interest in mobiles for social change. We are looking forward to your contributions, Esther and Frederick, and welcome you to the MobileActive community!
We also say the warmest of Goodbyes to Cory Ramey, who, for the past year, has been an incredible team member, blogger, writer and researcher here at MobileActive. She is returning to graduate school for her Master's in Journalism in New York City. We very much hope she'll stay in touch with an occasional contribution about how mobiles are changing the way we organize ourselves as a people - as a full-fledged reporter! We'll miss you, Cory!
Posted by KatrinVerclas on Aug 13, 2008
Below are some awards and funding opportunities that we have come across that might be of interest to the MobileActive community. None of the opportunities listed are adinistered by MobileActive; we are just the messenger!
Women in Science Competition
Recognising women scientists in sub-Saharan Africa who are "engaged in innovative and pioneering research and communicating the outputs - knowledge, technologies, approaches - for enhancing agricultural performance in sub-Saharan Africa." This competition is also designed for women scientists who are repackaging and communicating existing knowledge to improve the agricultural productivity and livelihoods of rural communities, or who are advocating for policy change to optimise the benefits of scientific and technological developments. Deadline: August 15 2008, more information here.
Posted by KatrinVerclas on Jul 29, 2008
For the last year there has been quite a bit of talk about mobile phone reporting in Africa. For good reason too, since this lowers the technology barrier to getting stories out of hard-to-reach places. Imagine, all you need to do is find a journalist and equip them with an adequate mobile phone Now you can record interviews in video and audio, take pictures and upload in almost any part of the continent.
Posted by CorinneRamey on Jul 11, 2008
In 2007, Sierra Leone had its first election since the end of a 10-year civil war. Previous elections had been run by the United Nations (UN), and there was fear that these highly contested elections would not be run fairly and transparently under the Sierra Leone National Election Commission (NEC).
Faced with the challenge of monitoring elections in a country that lacks infrastructure and reliable Internet access to transmit election data by conventional means, the monitoring group National Election Watch, abbrviated NEW, used a unique tool to transmit election data: SMS. (MobileActive.org had written prevoiously about this election and the role of SMS - see Texting It In: Monitoring Elections With Mobile Phones)
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Posted by KatrinVerclas on Jul 04, 2008
SANGONeT and MobileActive.org invite you to register now for MobileActive08. MobileActive08 is the only global gathering that is connecting leaders who are working at the convergence of civil society, mobile technology and social change. If you:
- have expertise in the field of mobile technology for social development,
- are a researcher working on mobile technology for social impact, or
- are a mobile service provider with interest in the social market,
MobileActive08 is for you. Register now!
MobileActive08 is the largest event to date focused on mobile technology for social development. This global gathering brings together people like you - practitioners, researchers, technologists and donors experienced and interested in the use and application of mobile technology for social impact. Register now!
At MobileActive08 you will explore how mobile phones are effectively used to advance civil society work, assess the current state of knowledge in the use of mobile technology to advance social development, and investigate trends, needs and investment opportunities.
We will cap attendance at 350 people and we expect to fill up quickly, so please register now to ensure your participation. Our partners at SANGONet and we at MobileActive.og look forward to welcoming you to South Africa!
Posted by KatrinVerclas on Jun 26, 2008
Preparations for MobileActive08 are in full swing! MobileActive08 is all about mobiles for social impact - and submissions for some great sessions on mobiles in health, data collection, humanitarian relief, advocacy, human rights, environmental protection and other areas.
We are still accepting proposals for sessions for MobileActive08 with YOUR ideas for mobiles of social impact until June 30th. MobileActive08 will take place in Johannesburg October 13-15.
If you want to run a workshop, give a talk, showcase your project or product in the SIMplace or SIMlab, submit a proposal! Deadline is June 30th for submission of proposals; general event registration will open AFTER that date.
We've gotten dozens of great proposals from some of the most stellar names in the field. But we want to hear from you! Here is how it works:
Posted by CorinneRamey on Jun 23, 2008
MobileActive releases the newest addition to our growing resource hub: Mobile Phones for Polling and Engagement.
Polling via SMS can be a unique way to engage current supporters and attract new audiences. Polls can ask any number of questions, from opinions about an organization to views on a controversial issue. However, perhaps the most valuable aspect of polling isn’t the feedback that organizations receive directly from a poll, but rather the relationships with constituents and growing mobile support base that polls can help build.
Organizations engage in mobile polling for two reasons:
- to generate a list of mobile numbers to use for future communications and engagement
- to get an informal sense of constituent views for use on an organization's web site, for generating media coverage, and learn more about a particular segment of its constituency.
Mobile Phones for Polling and Engagement includes a case study of polls conducted by Media Focus on Africa (MFAF) as part of their Election Assistance Campaign, which sought to promote civic participation and discussion of political issues prior to the December 2007 Kenyan elections. Through SMS polling, MFAF asked its constituents some tough questions.
Should politicians accused of corruption be prevented from vying for political seats? Is tribal identity more dominant than the identity of being a Kenyan? Can voting still deliver credible results after the chaotic party nominations and bribery?
The questions were advertised on television, radio shows, and newspaper advertisements. Thousands of Kenyans responded to the polls via SMS on their mobile phones, helping to bring issues of voting and civic participation into the national conversation.
Posted by KatrinVerclas on Jun 15, 2008
MobileActive08 session submissions are looking amazing. We have received suggestions from some of the most interesting people and projects in the field. We are still accepting submissions for workshops, talks, the SIMplace and SIMlab - the deadline for submissions is June 30th. But we are filling up, so please go ahead and submit your sessions!
Posted by KatrinVerclas on May 26, 2008
I am in South Africa this week as violence against immigrants broke out in townships all over the country. There are several initiatives that have now been launched to combat the violence -- using mobile phones.
In response to the violence against foreigners, the Western Cape Emergency Task Team with the leadership of Peter Benjamin of Cell-Life, has activated a national SMS emergency system for citizens to respond to the violence. The Task Team, a coalition of South Africa's Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and over 20 NGOs, has activated “NO TO XENOPHOBIA” SMS lines across South Africa.
